100 Filmfare Days: 14- Devdas

Bimal Roy was the cinematographer when PC Barua directed Devdas (1936) and was itching to make his own version. He chose Dilip Kumar as the tragic lover and such was the thespian’s dedication that it’s said he had to consult shrinks to get out of the character. He deservedly won the Filmfare Best Actor Award. Vyjayanthimala, who was renowned as a dancer, was taken seriously as a dramatic actor after Devdas. Roy took cinematic liberties from both the original and Sarat Chandra Chatterjee’s novel. Paro and Chandramukhi do not meet, both in the novel and the original film but here they fleetingly see each other and guess each other’s identity. Bengali actress Suchitra Sen, known for her natural ease, was introduced to Hindi film audiences through this film as Parvati, while Vyjayanthimala played the nautch girl with the heart of gold, Chandramukhi. The atmosphere of doomed love prevailed throughout. Devdas was destined to die a lonely death and audiences viewed his end with a mixture of relief and pity.

DID YOU KNOW?

1. Meena Kumari wanted to do the role of Paro in Devdas, which she lost to Suchitra Sen.2. Vyjayanthimala refused to take home her Filmfare Best Supporting Actress trophy as she felt she was the film's lead heroine.

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